Posts tagged “Mahala Murray”

John M Murray was the father of William Deaton Jackson “John” Murray. He was also the father to Obedianah “Biddie” Murray, Tobitha “Bitha” Murray,Mahala Murray, James Murray, Mary Mahalia Mahala Mahaley Murray, John K Murray and Elijah Murray. Sons William Deaton Jackson “John” Murray, John K Murray, and Elijah Murray all served in the 1st Regiment of Independent Vidette Cavalry for the Union in the War of Northern Aggression. William D J and John K Murray had married Isbell sisters, Lucinda and Susan Anna. John K Murray was an officer and the battle was near his home in Larkinsville in Jackson County. He became sick; went home to recover; returned to battle became sick with dysentery again and died on his way home. These are known children by whoever was his first wife. Some researchers have May Hollingsworth, 1795 – 1850, as his first wife. There is a marriage record on 4 April 1815 in Madison County, Alabama for John Murray and May Hollingsworth. And that may well be his first wife. However, somewhere back in the black-hole-of-years-gone-by-research, there was a Deaton lady who married a William Murray. That data went down with the crash of the second computer I wore out from researching family back in the early 1990s. But, if I live long enough I will find it again. I will. I. Will.

It is my belief that John M Murray and Deaton Deekins Murray’s father was William Murray. It is my belief that one of the wives, an early wife, was a Deaton lady. I believe this because tradition was that the maiden name; or the father of the wife’s whole name be used in naming children. This was a method to preserve the family name; as was naming more than one child the same name. This was a practice often used when children were known to die young; and mother’s would die giving birth.

The Deaton name travels through several generations. First was Deaton Murry Murray who was John’s brother. His name was likely William Deaton Murray. Then John M Murray named a son William Deaton Jackson Murray, but family called him “John.” Then WJD “John” Murray named one of his sons William Jackson Murray, and probably there was the Deaton in there as well that just did not get documented.

Let us skip through a couple of probable wives for John M Murray and go to his marriage to Jane Pierson Pearson, 1829 – 1914, in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama. These are the known children born to that marriage: Mandy Murray, Margaret Murray, Georgia Ann Murray, John B Murray, Marshall Winchester Murray, and Dawson Macon Murray. There will have to be future articles on John M Murray and his large family as there is more to discover even yet.

On the 1880 Federal Census Record for John Murray is at home in Smallwood, Tuscaloosa County, Alabama. He was born ca 1783 and is 97 years of age and it gives his place of birth as North Carolina. The boundaries of Tennessee which was once or twice a part of the Carolinas may have him born in one place or the other and the family never moved. For most records his birth place was East Tennessee which had been part of the Carolinas. His father’s birthplace was given as Scotland and his mother’s birthplace was given as South Carolina. John’s occupation is farming for himself. Likely Jane Murray was the informant for the census taker given John’s advanced age.

His wife, Jane, was 47 years of age. And the family consisted of children Georgia A Murray age eighteen as well as M C and D M Murray both aged fourteen. Jane Pierson Murray was listed as a patient at Bryce Hospital on a later census record.

Other marriages that researchers have for John M Murray include: Elizabeth Caldwell 4 Feb 1825 in Henry County, Georgia; Elizabeth Conaway 14 Oct 1855 in Jackson County, Alabama, and others have a marriage to a Jane Caldwell.

Research reveals that John M Murray served in the War of 1812 and was with Andrew Jackson at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend iirc. Part of his record of service as a soldier in the War of 1812 gives the following information:

John Murray- Pvt in 2 Reg. under Capt. Burwell Pope.

[1] John Murray made a notarized statement in obtaining bounty land– Sept. 28, 1850 stated he was a resident of Tuscaloosa Co.,AL and was the same John Murray who was a Private in the Co. commanded by Capt. Burwell Pope in the Regiment commanded by Col. Jett Thomas in the War of 1812. Said he was drafted in Sept. 1814 for six months and was discharged March 1815.

[4] Claim of Widow for Service Pension- War of 1812—-April 25, 1882, Jane Murray widow of John Murray, who was in the Co of Capt. B. Pope, under Col. Floyd–stated that he had volunteered at Oglethorpe Co. and discharged in Savannah.

John Murray gave his birth year as 1783 and 1790.

Captain Burwell Pope’s Company was formed in Lexington, Oglethorpe County, Georgia and discharged in Savannah, Georgia.

It was this service with Andrew Jackson that yielded some reward for those who served under him while they still lived in Native American lands of the Mississippi Territory. The President had ordered Andrew Jackson to route out the ‘squatters’ on Territory lands that still were in the hands of the Native Americans. These men had served well under Andrew Jackson and were the main reason for his military success. John Murray thought so much of Andrew Jackson that he named his son Jackson in his honor. Andrew Jackson remembered that service and meandered around on his trip to route out the ‘squatters’ long enough for the area to gain statehood thereby relieving him of the necessity of removing those who served under him so well. In the year 1818 Alabama became a state and the whites there were able to purchase the land they lived upon. Below are photos of his grave markers at Big Hurricane Cemetery at Big Hurricane Baptist Church in Vance, Brookwood, Tuscaloosa County, Alabama. Evidently this community was once named Coaling. This is what you’ve been waiting patiently for, enjoy.